Criteria to evaluate the alternative solutions

4 . Evaluate the Alternatives

This stage involves careful analysis of the different possible courses of action and then selecting the best solution for implementation.
This is perhaps the most complex part of the problem solving process. It is important at this stage to solve a problem that requires some very creative thinking and innovative ideas.
Before evaluating alternatives, the group needs to first establish criteria for judging solutions. The criteria should define general characteristics that a solution should have. One way to help members develop criteria is to ask them to complete sentences that naturally lead to identifying criteria. For example, "The solution should be one that. ”
Criteria should be objective and preferably measurable rather than emotional.
Group members should focus only on those criteria that are needed or desired to solve the problem.

Weighing the solutions against criteria can be done with various degrees of structure. For each solution, each member assigns a score to each criterion based on the extent to which that solution meets the criterion. For example, use a scale of one to ten with ten the highest score.
Ask your team members to assign a value to each solution based on how closely it meets the criterion and multiply the ratings with
the weight given to each criterion. Add the products for each solution and write the sum in a total score column. The solution with the highest total score is the group's choice.
It is important to remember that evaluation matrices and voting by dots are simple tools to help the group make better decisions and to make collective judgment about the selected solution or idea.

The focus of this step is to generate the number of potentially viable solutions (i.e. when one member suggests a solution, other members offer reasons why it will not work). After the group has exhausted its ideas for alternative solutions, combine aspects of previously generated solutions. Some solutions are likely to integrate the best aspects of various ideas and also are more likely to find consensus in the group.

In a group situation this stage is often carried out as a brain-storming session, letting each person in the group express their views on possible solutions (or part solutions). In organization’s different people will have different expertise in different areas and it is useful, therefore, to hear the views of each concerned party.